Fox island

July 18

This morning we left early to catch the train for a four-hour ride to Seward, which is on the Kenai Peninsula. We rode in a glass domed car (with a dining car beneath it that served breakfast). The glass sides and roof, as well as the open platform at the rear of the car, allowed for excellent landscape and wildlife viewing. The route skirted the edge on Turnagain Sound, and then turned south to pass through the Chugash Mountains. The surroundings were breathtaking—- steep forested hillsides, waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, glaciers, wetlands, and lakes. We saw several moose, a glimpse of a black bear, and quite a few bald eagles.  

Once in Seward we boarded a small ship for our 45 minute transit out to Fox Island.  Fox Island is one of three barrier islands that protect Seward from the full force of storms in the Gulf of Alaska. Along the way we saw harbor seals, harbor porpoise, and three sea otters who wrestled and tumbled in the water. 

The lodge on Fox Island is isolated and elegant. Our group fills their capacity so we have the place to ourselves. This afternoon we went sea kayaking for an hour in Halibut Bay, and were rewarded with several water birds, a pigeon guillemot, and a few Horned Puffins. The scenery was spectacular, snow capped mountains and hillsides with an array of blooming flowers. As we gazed out the windows at dinner, we saw a river otter making his way to the beach. The otter carried his fish across the beach and to a lagoon, where its den is suspected to be located.

Pictured: train in the Chugash Mountains, black oystercatcher, sea otters, river otter, Fox Island (zoom in to see the lodge)